The charge of the Ways & Means & Economic Development Committee is to position Ohio’s business climate to attract large companies and employers while ensuring that entrepreneurs and small businesses will have a friendly environment that will foster growth. Likewise, keeping energy prices and taxes in-check, maintaining a strong infrastructure and ensuring state labor polices encourage, rather than hinder jobs, will also be critical, especially when Ohio’s economy has been in recession.

“Revitalizing Ohio with more jobs is mission number one for this committee. Enacting policies that encourage economic development will take on even more importance as we work to build up Ohio’s economy,” Schaffer said. “I will have the large responsibility of shaping state policy in areas that have a tremendous impact on our ability to attract new business, industry and most importantly jobs to our state.”

“To turn this economy around, Ohio must be competitive in each of these areas. With my new committee appointments I will have the opportunity to make changes to Ohio law that will let businesses know that Ohio and the 31st Senate district are open and ready for business,” Schaffer added.

Schaffer will also serve as vice-chair of the newly-combined Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Committee. This panel will be responsible for reviewing legislation impacting Ohio’s agriculture industry as well as its wildlife, forests and parks. It will also oversee state conservation policies regarding land, mineral and water resources. Senator Schaffer previously served as chair of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee during the 128th General Assembly where he successfully managed several contentious issues with wide-ranging interested parties.

“Agriculture and our natural resources contribute billions to our economy, and joining these committees into a single panel will allow us to better see how policy changes in one of these areas impacts the others,” Schaffer said. “This will allow us to make more informed decisions about how to best support our farming and business communities while also preserving our natural resources for future generations.”